22 August,2015 08:38 AM IST | | Sujith Sudhakaran
In a rare instance, one school team (Lakshdam, Kandivli) were awarded a walkover against another (Seventhday Adventist HS, Byculla) despite the two playing their MSSA boys’ U-16 Div-IV football tie at Azad Maidan yesterday.
In a rare instance, one school team (Lakshdam, Kandivli) were awarded a walkover against another (Seventhday Adventist HS, Byculla) despite the two playing their MSSA boys' U-16 Div-IV football tie at Azad Maidan yesterday.
MSSA penalised Seventhday Adventist for not bringing their identity cards to the ground, which is mandatory for all matches. However, ironically, only Lakshdham coach Nitin Gurav was told about the walkover decision. The Seventhday Adventist side, who strolled in late for the match, played the match without knowing it was a pointless.
Referee Roman Luis too did not know it was a walkover. When he informed the MSSA officials that Seventhday Adventist did not have their i-cards, he was simply told to conduct the match anyway.
Rishabh Thakur scored a brace and Sahil Singarkar netted the third goal for Lakshdham, while Amanullah Shaikh pulled one back for Seventhday Adventist, who lost 1-3. MSSA General Secretary Sebastian Fernandes said that the match was played since both teams had travelled all the way for it. "According to the rules, if a team does not bring their I-cards, the opponent is awarded a walkover and that's what we did today," said Fernandes.
